Grandfathers' Clock Running Out

The EPA has discovered that a number of old, coal-fired power plants, “grandfathered” under the Clean Air Act, seem to have flouted the law by making major renovations to produce more power without installing required pollution controls. The EPA is still investigating and no action has yet been taken against the power companies, but the agency could levy millions of dollars in fines and require plants to install pollution-control equipment. Demand for coal-fired power has risen in recent years as deregulation has let electric companies sell cheap power from old coal plants across state lines. Sens. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) and Jim Jeffords (R-Vt.) have proposed a bill that would end Clean Air Act exemptions for old plants and require electricity producers to purchase increasing percentages of renewable power.

Dig Our Work?

As a nonprofit news outlet, we rely on reader support to help fund our award-winning journalism. We’re one of the few news outlets dedicated exclusively to people-focused environmental coverage, and we believe our content should remain free and accessible to all. If you dig our mission and agree news should never sit behind a paywall, donate today to help support our work. Chip in what you can.